It's the Hap-Happiest Season of ALL!

I have a new obsession: Christmas Markets.

Last week, our very own Swansea opened their Christmas market! They are full of delicious treats, cute crafts, mulled wine, and fresh donuts! (All things I love, love, love.) Don't tell anyone, but I've already gone TWICE!

I took a few snaps on my iPhone to show you what it's all about... but I will have to go back and take real pictures with my Nikon one of these days. It's seriously so adorable and I just want to share all of my warm and fuzzies with you!

This is the sandwich stand where I've eaten lunch both days! I have tried the Turkey, Cranberry, & Stuffing... Pork, Applesauce, and Stuffing... and Steak, Onion, & Mushroom. All. So. Delicious.

This is me on day one with my Pork and Apple sanny. Yeah, I ate the whole thing, judge me.

THEN we went for Crepes and Donuts. Actually, this was crepe day. BUT the next day, you bet your sweet buns, I got donuts.

Nick and me with our fantastically marvelous crepes... or as Nick would say, "craps".

Ok, this has nothing to do with the Christmas markets... BUT I made some delicious eggless cookie dough bites topped with nutella the other night. Side of milk. BAD IDEA, y'all. Fun Fact: I have IBS and milk is basically my "arch nemesis". Chocolate, butter, and all other delicious things are also SO MEAN to my stomach... but I don't even care because they are so nummy.

Made you want some sugasuga, huh?

Mad Love.

Pack our Bags and Get Away

Happy Saturday afternoon, my lovecats.It's yet another dreary day in Swansea (weather-wise, that is). While the rest of my house is still sleeping, I have been up for a while planning my trip home. SCARY, huh? I officially come home in... 3 weeks! Well, I leave Swansea in 3... then leave London the next day (Sunday the 18th). I absolutely can not believe my time has flown by so quickly. Honestly, I'm starting to get a little freaked out about going home.
Number one fear? Packing. Number two? Hauling everything through a train station, a bus station, an airport, a shuttle, a hotel, another shuttle, and back to the airport. By everything I mean 3 suitcases (aka my life in 3 plastic shelters). Number three? Flying standby... you're never entirely sure what will happen! Number four? I'm sort of terrified that everything has changed at home. I will be coming home to a new house, new co-workers, new semester... and I've got to admit, I'm kind of scared. You might think it's silly to be scared after 4 months of being away from home... but honestly, the amount of change that's happened in my own life is insane... so I can only imagine how it will be back home.
I guess all I can do is put in the hands of God.
My mom is funny about chain mail... she hardly ever sends it on, even though it may mean she gets eaten in her sleep by wild dragons; however, sometimes she'll send me something that's just... perfect. For example, the day I revealed my sick obsession with butter to my roommates, she sent me a chain letter about the good qualities of butter and why you should eat it often (and over margarine). But for the purpose of this story, my butter addicition is irrelevant.
The other morning, after a long night of travel, I opened my inbox to an e-mail about a "to-do" list. First, I'm thinking, "Oh my God, Mom. I don't want to DOOOO anything right now... except maybe take some extra stregnth somethin'somethin' and a nap". Then, despite the fact that my contacts were so dry they could cut glass, I read the e-mail. It was all about giving God your to-do list, trusting that he will help you, and being patient.
I wouldn't classify myself as overtly-religious or anything, but this e-mail really spoke to me. I guess moms have a way of knowing when something needs to be said. A lot of the time, I get frustrated with little things, and want them to be sorted out immediately. Unfortunately... the world doesn't revolve around one single person ;) and everything takes time. I guess right now I need to focus on giving up my worries to God and praying for the best.
I know this blog post has barely anything exciting going on... but I think I just needed to sort out a few things via type- and isn't that what a blog is for? Well, I've successfully finished my mug of Cocoa, so now it's off to find whatever adventures lie ahead for the day. AKA: Do my laundry so my roommates will find me socially acceptable, even if it's only for a day.
Mad Love.

GOBBLE GOBBLE MOTHA TRUCKA

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It's a day to spend with family, friends, and food. Three of my FAVORITE things. I was worried this Thanksgiving wouldn't be as amazing since I'm missing one of the 3 F's... but it was certainly as fantastic (if not more) than all of the rest. I am so blessed to be here right now. There are so many things to be thankful for!

I am thankful for FREE dinner. This was last night before the Swansea Christian Union's Thanksgiving meal. They served pretty traditional food... but due to a gnarly migraine I left the dinner before Pumpkin Pie was served.

I am thankful for my ability to improvise almost anything... including a large portion of a Thanksgiving dinner. Voila!

I am thankful for music. I couldn't live through most days without it. I am especially thankful for the Home Alone Soundtrack, as it got me through most of today!

I am thankful for all of the elbow grease that went into preparing this meal. We had salad, cranberry orange sauce, mashed potatoes, 7-up salad, 2 kinds of stuffing, a turkey, gravy, sweet potato pie, a delish corn dish, pumpkin pie, hot apple cider, green bean casserole, apple pie, and scotcharoos. *I hope I didn't leave anything out!!

I am thankful for friends. I have the most amazing gang this side of the pond. Yushi, Bianca, and Chris were also in attendance, but they had class 'til later in the evening! I wish Courtney would have been here to help celebrate, but she's in Dublin with her boyfriend!

I am thankful for the Human Turkey.

I am thankful for hands that work, a heart that loves, a spirit that can still imagine and play make believe, a brain that has given me more opportunities than I can count, and so many things that aren't pictured. I am thankful for my family (Mommy, Daddy, Emmy, Dustin, CTTDJ+, JDMB+, and all of the amazing cousins God has blessed me with). I am thankful for my best friends... You know who you are. I am thankful for my boo. I am thankful for love. Love is truly what makes my world go 'round. If there was ever something my family taught me, it was that LOVE IS NUMBER ONE. You have nothing without it.

I am thankful this meal didn't kill anyone.
I am also beyond thankful for the 3 people that read my blog- Terri, Debbie, Emily... you know who you are ;)
I love you all. Merry Thanksgiving to all, and to all LOTS OF PUMPKIN PIE.
Mad Love.

The Air Outside will make our Cells Divide at an Alarming Rate

NEGLIGENT BLOGGER TO THE RESCUE!

I have come bearing gifts of Kaisterslautern and surrounding areas. Mostly in the form of pictures... since I pretty much already told you everything that happened on the trip in my last two posts. Let me just start off by saying... you're about to get a double whammy of blogging... because CLEARLY today is Thanksgiving! So after this comes the main course.

This is Mobil Marten... I never thought I'd love anything more than IKEA until Ian and Burt took us here. It was literally the most amazing place on planet earth. So much home decor... I could have shopped for HOURS.

Early Saturday morning at the Christmas Market. Can you tell which ones are related? ;) 

Burt feeding Melissa her first Potato Pancake with Applesauce! Welcome to Germany, Lissa! 

My Cup... Ian's Cup. Some of us are just a little sloppier after 3 cups of Gluhwein ;)  

The GORGEOUS market. I was so taken back by the beautiful buildings. It was like being in a Dr. Seuss book.

In the oldest city in Germany, in the dark. So incredible. Who wouldn't want to live in a Pink Mansion?

The delicious German dinner Ian cooked: Bratwurst, Currywurst, Potato Dumplings, and Sauerkraut. All of my favorites!!

Burt was thoroughly enjoying me drinking pickle juice. I haven't had a Claussen Dill for almost 4 months... Needless to say, I drank most of the jar.

Sunday we went for a relaxing walk through the woods. It was so cool! We ran across the burial hut of a prince on the walk... talk about history!

At the prince's ruling ground. Feelin' Princey.

I am so thankful I got to go visit Ian and Burt. It was more amazing than I could have EVER dreamed it could be.

If you want to see more pictures, let me know and I'll post!

Mad Love.

God Help the Outcasts.

The man in the Novotel lobby will forever be my hero.
Once again, Melissa and I are in the midst of a fantastic layover in which the train station closed. We wandered the streets of Bristol, feelin' a little like Mary and Joseph... Only minus the baby Jesus, looking for a hotel to let us stay. There were vacancies in our story, but none of which we could afford. We walked into a swanky hotel downtown expecting to be turned away after we saw the 150 single room price tag... But the nice man behind the counter took pity on two pretty young travelers and is letting us stay in the lobby. He will always be my hero.
It's 2:30 in the morning, which means we only have 3 hours left until our train departs for Swansea. I know I'll be happy to see it barreling into the station, but I will be a bit sad to be saying goodbye to a great weekend.
Visiting Ian and Burt was about 10x more incredible than I could have imagined... And trust me, I was dreamin' big. We saw so many beautiful buildings, ate so much delicious food, and had fantastic conversation. Really reminds you of how amazing family is.
I have about a trillion pictures to share... But those will have to come at a later date, seeing as I'm currently unable to access the Internet. Some of the highlights, though, are a German Christmas market... A mansion in the dark... And downtown Kaiserslautern. So be looking forward to that!!!
My eyes are descending at a rapid pace... Which means all of this traveling is setting in. Time for a nap? I think so. Is it inappropriate to sleep in a fancy hotel lobby? I guess we're about to find out.
Mad love.

Round About Four you Gotta Leave the Lobby

It's two in the morning. I'm sitting in polo cafe, downtown London, where I have just successfully devoured a ham and cheese omelette. I am compiling a list of ways to keep myself awake over this 6 hour layover... And with nothing open, including the train station, I've come to the conclusion that I will just have to make the most of my blogger app and iPod. Unfortunately, there is no wifi, so by the time you read this, I may be in an insane asylum. My, how I rely on technology.
Melissa is across the table watching Mulan on her iPod. I'm thankful she is here; she might be the only thing keeping me sane. I have found that I'm miserable at layovers. It's mostly my own fault, though. If I was smart, or at least well prepared, I would have brought a book, playing cards, or some other form of entertainment... But I never learn.
I guess I haven't told you why I'm downtown London at all hours of the night. I'm in transit to Frankfurt to see my cousin Ian and her husband Burt. If you read my blog regularly, you might already know this. However, unless your name's prefix is "aunt" or you share a surname with a famous snowman, I daresay this may be your first visit.
The last time I saw my cousin Ian was the Christmas I was 16... So I'm pretty excited to hang out with her again. We are 10 years and millions of miles apart, but we are DEFINITELY cousins... Which means this trip is going to be nothing short of amazing. Thank God for cousins... Especially ones that live in groovy places ;)
Melissa is conked out now. I suppose I'm not surprised... I don't even know if I stayed awake the FIRST(only) time I saw Mulan. Probably not one of Disney's better films... Don't hate, I just can think of about 682 movies I'd rather watch. Topping the list? Not a Disney movie... But I could definitely go for a little Home Alone action, right now. Must. Hold. Out. For. Christmas. Eve (or at least until I can watch it with my boofrann).
It's chilly in here. I don't hate it, but I might prefer to feel my toes. I think the table next to us is here for the long haul, too. There's a man to my left who reminds me of Maren's Grandpa Gil... Minus the birds. Speaking of Maren, there is a great possibility I might drop dead when I see her. This will be out of sheer love and excitement, of course, but it will most likely happen. I miss that little princess.
I'm astonished that I only have a month left... But I'm thankful that Jesus' birthday arrives shortly after I return. I think if I didn't have that to look forward to, I might slip into some kind of severe post-Britain depression. It's going to be weird going back to the real world. I am very excited to see my fam-bam, though... And oddly enough I'm psyched to get back to work! I miss my little andoweenies, my J2crew, and my Gypsy Girls.
Uhoh. The table next to us is getting asked to leave to make more room... Which means... Dun dun dun. We. Are. Next. At least we only have an hour before our train to the airport. Then 3 hours there... Then a 2 hour flight. Then COUSIN TIME!!!
Oh, dear lord, please have mercy on the two twenty somethings downtown at night, and don't make us get up to leave yet.
Ok, it's getting progressively colder. Haven't these Brits heard of a heater (or closing the door)? Brrrowskie. (oddly, that looks like something a frat boy would say... I'm not saying "broski" as in "what up broski? Lets do keg-stands and sing party in the usa"... I'm sayyin' "brrrr-owww-ski" as in "it's colder than a witches tit in a brass bra.") Progressively. Colder.
I'm not sure I want to walk back to the station... I'm mildly terrified of how much I am going to freeze. Wow. I just realized I've been rambling for a good 40 minutes. This will probably take at least a hot minute to read... So sorry if you have to... thank you if you have.
My fingers are beginning to freeze... So, iPod it is. Thanks for the entertainment, hopefully I was able to return the favor, if only momentarily.
Mad love.

With a Heart on Board, so Please be Careful.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS.I know, "Cristen, it's not even Thanksgiving!!!" But, does this look like the face of a girl who gives a flying rat's patooty? (Imagine a face that doesn't... because that's basically what mine looks like right now.) I don't even feel bad for celebrating early, because technically Thanksgiving isn't even a holiday on this planet I call Swansea.
Speaking of Thanksgiving... Melissa's mom was here this week and brought me PUMPKIN in can. It doesn't sound all that magical to you U.S.-ers , I'm sure, but we don't have pumpkin-diddly-squat over here. I want to tell that I saved it all for my FAMOUS punkin' pie, but I may or may not have already made the world's best pumpkin muffins. SO. GOOD. Homemade cinnamon butter cream frosting on top... mmmm mmmm mmmm smack my pancakes and call me Judy.
I am so excited for the holiday season (which by the way, we've totally been in since Halloween, if you didn't already know). I am excited for cranberries, stuffing (my face), and pie. Also, I'm excited, because it's socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music. For those of you who don't know me, this is a life-long battle I face. My love for Christmas music overpowers all social restrictions.
On the note of Christmas, I got my FIRST gift today... Apparently Kate Middleton is PREGNANT. Which means that I can vicariously have a Prince's baby. Yeah, figure that one out. ALSO I bought a tree which is just... brilliant beyond brilliant. Now I can start looking for gifts for everyone... IN FRANKFURT. Where I will be this weekend. SO. EXCITED. I will be seeing my beautiful cousin Ian for the first time in 5 years <3 and meeting her husband!! Be looking forward to pictures...
Speaking of pictures...

This was at dinner tonight: Melissa, Courtney, and me with THE TREE. AAAAAND the delicious tacos I made for dinnah.

My artsayfartsay attempt at photographing the tree. The tree warms my heart.

Mad Love.

Let's hit up Magnolia and Mack on some Cupcakes

This has quite possibly been the most boring week of my life. Ok, not my life... but my time in Swansea. Maybe it's post-Amsterdam travel-lag... but I've got to get it together. I've watched too many episodes of "Friends" this morning.
I went to town with LaSarah the other day and we started talking about how little time we have left here. So, it's a wonder why I've spent the last 5 hours sitting in front of my computer, doing absolutely nothing productive. Lazy Sunday. Honestly, though, back to this whole like... 6 weeks left thing... It's weird. Not to say that all things have flown by and been easy since I've been here, but let's face it, I can officially check off "living in the UK" from my bucket list. I can't believe I've been here since early September! I mean, It's almost THANKSfreakinGIVING.
I have been dreaming a lot of strange things lately.
1. We started offering Tuna Pizza on the unlimited at work.
2. I forgot how to drive. Which is a legitimate fear that I have.
3. I move back into my old house in Monroe.
4. Ixtapa is now like Baja Jack's... which I don't really hate... but I'm also not entirely comfortable with.
...Anyway, there are more. But I would really rather compile a list of things I want to do right now.
1. Eat Claussen kosher dill pickles.
2. Hug EVERYONE.
3. Give Matt a Penelope Pig Nose.
4. Lay across my parents on the couch.
5. Eat Kim McGee's Chicken and Dumplings.
6. Reupholster my Mustard Chair.
7. Christmas Carol with Maren and Sean... and a Bass.
....Ok, there are obviously about 374 other things I would also like to do... but you get the gist.
I guess, in that way, I'm happy to only have 6 weeks left. I think this all came to a head when my roommate's Mom and Boyfriend showed up to visit... made me MISS mine. Reagardless, there are clearly a few things I will be sad to leave behind over here.
1. Oh. My. God. I almost just made another list. WHO AM I?! (Mirror, Mirror on the wall, I am my SISTER after all?)
I'm sorry I don't have any exciting pictures or news to share today. It seriously has been a very uneventful week. Please accept this photograph of the "Thanksgiving Cousin Cake," that I will be missing out on this year, as a form of sincere apology.

MMM MMM. I AM NUTS ABOUT MY COUSINS.
Mad Love.

It's about Amsterdam time....

After recieving a bit of "hate mail" to kindly remind me that I'm seriously slacking as a blogger... I have finally decided to share with you... HALLOWEEN! Oh, and a little bit of my trip to Amsterdam, too!

Flintstones, Meet the Flintsones!! Wilma, Fred, Barney, Betty, Dino, and Pebbles! Yes, we're missing Bam-Bam... but our Bam-Bam bailed last minute. Too bad, because we all looked SUPER cute.

I think that if Betty and Barney ever had an engagement shot... this would be it. Nick and I made a fantastic duo for the evening!

Betty and Kitty (Ulrika) hanging out before hitting the town! This is probably the best shot of my costume I could find... Turned out pretty cute, huh?

The DYNAMIC DUO doing what they do best... This was at Yates, which is probably has some of the best music in town. We walked in to "The Streets"... which was soon followed by "The Wombats". Clearly, I was enjoying myself.

I have about 23985 more pictures from Halloween... but I have so much more ground to cover, so if you want to see more, let me know and I'd be more than happy to share!

Lets get real, though. We're really all here today so I can tell you about AMSTERDAM.

Just rolling off the bus, around 9 AM on Friday... We were ready to take on Amsterdam for the next 2 days.

Me and my BEAUTIFUL friend, Allison. She is seriously amazing and I can't imagine not being around her every day. She is probably the most open-minded, kind-hearted, and lovely person I've ever met.

Caleb, Courtney, and Me, eating at a WONDERFUL Italian restaraunt. Made me miss Andolini's!

The famous iamsterdam sign- with some of my favorite people. This was one of the first things we saw upon our arrival... pretty groovy, huh?

Here's a closer shot of me and my pal, Kyle, looking fly in the "e".

Taking a break from some SERIOUS tourism and sitting by a gorgeous fountain in town. Pictured: Caleb, Melissa, Courtney, me, Katie, and Nick.

We took a canal cruise through the town, which is built pretty much around 3 main canal routes... it was superbly gorgeous... though the tour wasn't all that interesting,  since we'd already seen/been to most of the big spots in town.

This was the most incredible part of the trip, for me. We toured Anne Frank's house... which may be one of the most moving experiences of my life. I've always been incredibly interested in her story, and being in her hiding place was such an incredible moment in my life. I didn't even have to look at the photographs on her bedroom wall before I knew I was in her room. It sounds silly, but I had a rush of emotions as soon as I stepped through her doorway... It was absolutely unmatched. I am beyond thankful we got to experience her home and museum.

After the Anne Frank House, we went to a really neat little market, where we picked up all sorts of thing-a-ma-bobs... which for me meant fresh Dutch Currant Rolls. MMMMM.

A typical view from a side street in Amsterdam. It was so amazing. Of course, there are lots of things that a lady wouldn't mention that also go on in town... but I'll leave that to your imagination.

I think this might have been my favorite trip yet. I ate my weight in Dutch Donuts, got my Currant Roll fix, and even tried on a pair of GINORMOUS wooden shoes. Plus, some of my favorite people in the world got to share it with me.

I thank God daily for the people he's blessed me with in my time abroad. I would seriously be (even more) insane without them.

Mad Love.